1Corinthians 1-4 - Prayer Tents

1Corinthians 1

Greetings from Paul

1This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes.G3972G2822G652G2424G5547G1223G2307G2316G2532G4988G802I am writing to God's church in Corinth

, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.G1577G2316G3588G5607G1722G2882G37G1722G5547G2424G2822G40G4862G3956G1722G3956G5117G1941G3686G2424G5547G2257G2962G5037G846G2532G22573May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.G5485G5213G2532G1515G575G2316G2257G3962G2532G2962G2424G5547

Paul Gives Thanks to God

4I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.G2168G3450G2316G3842G4012G5216G4012G1909G5485G2316G3588G1325G5213G1722G2424G55475Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge.G3754G1722G3956G4148G1722G846G1722G3956G3056G2532G3956G11086This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true.G2531G3142G5547G950G1722G52137Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.G5620G5209G5302G1722G3361G3367G5486G553G602G2257G2962G2424G55478He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.G3739G950G2532G950G5209G2193G5056G410G1722G2250G2257G2962G2424G55479God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.G2316G4103G1223G3739G2564G1519G2842G846G5207G2424G5547G2257G2962

Divisions in the Church

10I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters

, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.G1161G3870G5209G80G1223G3686G2257G2962G2424G5547G2443G3004G3956G3004G846G2532G5600G3361G4978G1722G5213G1161G5600G2675G1722G846G3563G2532G1722G846G110611For some members of Chloe's household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters.G1063G1213G3427G4012G5216G3450G80G5259G3588G5514G3754G1526G2054G1722G521312Some of you are saying, "I am a follower of Paul." Others are saying, "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Peter

," or "I follow only Christ."G1161G5124G3004G3754G1538G5216G3004G1473G3303G1510G3972G1161G1473G625G1161G1473G2786G1161G1473G554713Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!G3307G5547G3307G3361G4717G3972G4717G5228G5216G2228G907G1519G3686G397214I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,G2168G2316G3754G907G3762G5216G1508G2921G2532G105015for now no one can say they were baptized in my name.G3363G5100G2036G3754G907G1519G1699G368616(Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas, but I don't remember baptizing anyone else.)G1161G907G2532G3624G4734G3063G1492G3756G907G1536G24317For Christ didn't send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.G1063G5547G649G3165G3756G907G235G2097G3756G1722G4678G3056G3363G4716G5547G2758

The Wisdom of God

18The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.G1063G3056G4716G2076G3303G622G3472G1161G2254G4982G2076G1411G231619As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent."

G1063G1125G622G4678G4680G2532G114G4907G490820So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.G4226G4680G4226G1122G4226G4804G5127G165G3471G3780G2316G3471G4678G5127G288921Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.G1063G1894G1722G4678G2316G2889G1223G4678G1097G3756G2316G2106G2316G1223G3472G2782G4982G410022It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom.G2532G1894G2453G154G4592G2532G1672G2212G467823So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense.G1161G2249G2784G5547G4717G2453G3303G4625G1161G1672G347224But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles

, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.G1161G846G3588G2822G5037G2453G2532G1672G5547G1411G2316G2532G4678G231625This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.G3754G3474G2316G2076G4680G444G2532G772G2316G2076G2478G44426Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy

when God called you.G1063G991G5216G2821G80G3754G3756G4183G4680G2596G4561G3756G4183G1415G3756G4183G210427Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.G235G2316G1586G3474G2889G2443G2617G4680G2532G2316G1586G772G2889G2443G2617G247828God chose things despised by the world

, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.G2532G36G2889G2532G1848G1586G2316G1586G2532G3588G5607G3361G2443G2673G560729As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.G3704G3361G3956G4561G2744G1799G84630God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.G1161G1537G846G2075G5210G1722G5547G2424G3739G575G2316G1096G2254G5037G4678G1343G2532G38G2532G62931Therefore, as the Scriptures say, "If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD."

G2443G2531G1125G2744G2744G1722G2962

1Corinthians 2

Paul’s Message of Wisdom

2When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters

, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan.G2504G80G2064G4314G5209G2064G3756G2596G5247G3056G2228G4678G2605G5213G3142G23162For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.G1063G2919G3756G1492G5100G1722G5213G1508G2424G5547G2532G5126G47173I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling.G2532G1473G1096G4314G5209G1722G769G2532G1722G5401G2532G1722G4183G51564And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.G2532G3450G3056G2532G3450G2782G3756G1722G3981G3056G442G4678G235G1722G585G4151G2532G14115I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.G2443G5216G4102G5600G3361G5600G1722G4678G444G235G1722G1411G23166Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten.G1161G2980G4678G1722G5046G1161G3756G4678G5127G165G3761G758G5127G165G26737No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God

—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.G235G2980G4678G2316G1722G3466G613G3739G2316G4309G4253G165G1519G2257G13918But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord.G3739G3762G758G5127G165G1097G1487G1063G1097G302G4717G3756G4717G2962G13919That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."

G235G2531G1125G3739G3788G1492G3756G1492G2532G3756G3775G191G2532G3756G305G1909G2588G444G3739G2316G2090G25G84610But

it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets.G1161G2316G601G2254G1223G846G4151G1063G4151G2045G3956G2532G899G231611No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit.G1063G5101G444G1492G3588G444G1508G4151G444G3588G1722G846G2532G3779G3588G2316G1492G3762G1508G4151G231612And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.G1161G2249G2983G3756G4151G2889G235G4151G3588G1537G2316G2443G1492G5483G2254G5259G231613When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths

.G3739G2532G2980G3756G1722G3056G442G4678G1318G235G40G4151G1722G1318G4793G4152G415214But people who aren't spiritual

can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.G1161G5591G444G1209G3756G3588G4151G2316G1063G2076G3472G846G2532G3756G1410G1097G3754G4153G35015Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.G1161G4152G350G3303G3956G1161G846G350G5259G376216For, "Who can know the LORD's thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?"

But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.G1063G5101G1097G3563G2962G3739G4822G846G1161G2249G2192G3563G5547

1Corinthians 3

Paul and Apollos, Servants of Christ

3Dear brothers and sisters

, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life.G2532G1473G80G1410G3756G2980G5213G5613G4152G235G5613G4559G5613G3516G1722G55472I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready,G4222G5209G1051G2532G3756G1033G1063G3768G1410G3768G1410G235G3777G2089G3568G14103for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren't you living like people of the world?G1063G2075G2089G4559G1063G3699G1722G5213G2205G2532G2054G2532G1370G2075G3780G4559G2532G4043G2596G4444When one of you says, "I am a follower of Paul," and another says, "I follow Apollos," aren't you acting just like people of the world?G1063G3752G5100G3004G1473G3303G1510G3972G1161G2087G1473G625G2075G3780G45595After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God's servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us.G5101G3767G2076G3972G1161G5101G625G235G2228G1249G1223G3739G4100G2532G5613G2962G1325G15386I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.G1473G5452G625G4222G235G2316G8377It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow.G5620G3777G2076G5452G5100G3777G4222G235G2316G8378The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.G1161G5452G2532G4222G1526G1520G1161G1538G2983G2398G3408G2596G2398G28739For we are both God's workers. And you are God's field. You are God's building.G1063G2070G4904G2316G2075G2316G1091G2316G361910Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.G2596G5485G2316G3588G1325G3427G5613G4680G753G5087G2310G1161G243G2026G1161G991G1538G991G4459G202611For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.G1063G243G2310G1410G3762G5087G3844G2749G3739G2076G2424G554712Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.G1161G1536G2026G1909G5126G2310G5557G696G5093G3037G3586G5528G256213But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value.G1538G2041G1096G5318G1063G2250G1213G3754G601G1722G4442G2532G4442G1381G1538G2041G3697G207614If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.G1536G2041G3306G3739G2026G2983G340815But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.G1536G2041G2618G2210G1161G846G4982G1161G3779G5613G1223G444216Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in

you?G1492G3756G3754G2075G3485G2316G2532G4151G2316G3611G1722G521317God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.G1536G5351G3485G2316G5126G5351G2316G5351G1063G3485G2316G2076G40G3748G5210G207518Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise.G1818G3367G1818G1438G1536G1722G5213G1380G1511G4680G1722G5129G165G1096G3474G2443G1096G468019For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, "He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness."

G1063G4678G5127G2889G2076G3472G3844G2316G1063G1125G1405G4680G1722G846G383420And again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless."

G2532G3825G2962G1097G1261G4680G3754G1526G315221So don't boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you?G5620G2744G3367G2744G1722G444G1063G3956G2076G521622whether Paul or Apollos or Peter

, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you,G1535G3972G1535G625G1535G2786G1535G2889G1535G2222G1535G2288G1535G1764G1535G3195G3956G2076G521623and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.G1161G5210G5547G1161G5547G2316

1Corinthians 4

Paul’s Relationship with the Corinthians

4So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God's mysteries.G3049G444G3779G3049G2248G5613G5257G5547G2532G3623G3466G23162Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.G3739G1161G3063G2212G1722G3623G2443G5100G2147G41033As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don't even trust my own judgment on this point.G1161G1698G2076G1519G1646G2443G350G5259G5216G2228G5259G442G2250G235G350G3761G16834My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.G1063G4894G3762G1683G235G1344G3756G1722G5129G1344G1161G350G3165G2076G29625So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.G5620G2919G3361G5100G4253G2540G2193G302G2962G2064G3739G2532G5461G2927G4655G2532G5319G1012G2588G2532G5119G1538G1096G1868G575G23166Dear brothers and sisters

, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I've been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won't be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another.G1161G5023G80G3345G1519G1683G2532G625G1223G5209G2443G3129G1722G2254G3361G5426G5228G2443G3739G1125G3363G1520G5448G5228G1520G2596G20877For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?G1063G5101G1252G4571G1252G1161G5101G2192G3739G2983G3756G2983G1161G1499G2983G5101G2744G5613G2983G3361G29838You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God's kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you.G2235G2075G2880G2235G4147G936G5565G2257G2532G3785G1065G936G2443G2249G2532G4821G52139Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor's parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike.G1063G1380G3754G2316G584G2248G652G2078G5613G1935G3754G1096G2302G2889G2532G32G2532G44410Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.G2249G3474G1223G5547G1223G1161G5210G5429G1722G5547G2249G772G1161G5210G2478G5210G1741G1161G2249G82011Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don't have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home.G891G737G5610G3983G2532G3983G2532G1372G2532G1130G2532G2852G2532G79012We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.G2532G2872G2038G2398G5495G3058G2127G1377G43013We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world's garbage, like everybody's trash—right up to the present moment.G987G3870G1096G5613G4027G2889G4067G3956G2193G73714I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.G1125G3756G5023G1788G5209G235G5613G3450G27G5043G356015For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.G1063G1437G2192G3463G3807G1722G5547G235G3756G4183G3962G1063G1722G5547G2424G1473G1080G5209G1223G209816So I urge you to imitate me.G3767G3870G5209G1096G3402G345017That's why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.G1223G5124G1223G3992G5213G5095G3739G2076G3450G27G5043G2532G4103G1722G2962G3739G363G5209G363G3450G3598G3588G1722G5547G2531G1321G3837G1722G3956G157718Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again.G1161G5100G5448G5613G3450G2064G3361G2064G4314G520919But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I'll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God's power.G1161G2064G4314G5209G5030G1437G2962G2309G2532G1097G3756G3056G5448G235G141120For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power.G1063G932G2316G3756G1722G3056G235G1722G141121Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit?G5101G2309G2064G4314G5209G1722G4464G2228G1722G26G5037G4151G4236